Suction cleaner



Aug. 13, 1940. D. B. REPLOGLE sucnon CLEANER Filed Aug. 5, 1936 6Sheets-Sheet l Aug, 13, 19 D; B. REPLOGLE sucwzon CLEANER Filed Aug. 5,1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 5. Pep/09k,

Aug. 13, 194o.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I n 3mm 5; I D. fe lo/og/e,

8% W WW Aug. 13, 1940. n. B. IIREPLOGLE SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 5,'1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 p. 5. Pep/dg/e 1%W/I 13, 1940- D. B. REPLOGLE2,210,950

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 5, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 8- 1940- D. B.REPLOGLE 2.210350 SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 5, 193a S'Sh'eets-Sheet ed0. 5. Pe /o /e,

Patented Aug." 13,1940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' SUUIION CLEANER Daniel Benson Replogle,Berkeley, Califl, assignor to The Ohio Citizens Trust Company, astrustee, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 5, 1936,Serial No. 94,439

- 18 Claims.

The invention relates to cleaning apparatus and l and a heater, rotatingin opposite directions. One

of the effects of this arrangement is that the beater tends to move thenap of the .carpet or other floor covering in one direction and thebrush in the opposite direction while the combined action of the twoagitators is to leave the nap standing substantially upright afterhaving been thoroughly cleaned, especially when the brush and beatingaction is combined with the action of an air stream. 20, A furtherobject of the invention is to provide an air-method cleaner with a hosedetachable at the floor tool or suction box wherein the detachmentofthese hose auomatically disconnects the agitating devices from thesource of power when the hose is to be used independently of the floortool or suction box which houses the beater and brush.

Other objects will be apparent from a consideration of the. accompanyingdrawings and the following detailed description, in which are set forthillustrative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: .9

Fig. 1 is a side view of the assembled device, parts being shown inelevation while the bag holder'is shown in section for the purpose ofdisclosing the interior; w 4

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary topplan view of the same portions being brokenaway for the purpose of illustrating details of construction;

.Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the floor tool taken on line 3-3 of Fig 4;

Fig.4 is a plan view of the our tool with the motor dome and motorremoved;

Fig. .5 is a side elevation of the floor ,tool with a surface engagingskirt attached thereto;

Fig.6 is a perspective view of the skirt shown detached from the floortool; I T Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view on line 1-1 of Fig. 5-showing the seal interposed between the skirt and the suction box;

Fig.8 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation;showing a portionof the revolving brush and the mounting of the same inthe suction box, the section being taken on 5 the line 8-8 of Fig- 3;

first of these is a wheeledtfloor tool A which Fig. 9 is a detailedview. showing the mounting for the brush shaft;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentarysection on line l0,-I0 of- Fig. 5 showing theroller support for the suction box and skirt; I e 5 Fig. 11 shows arectangular paper sheet from yielding which a seamless dust collectorbag is-to be formed; c Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a stepa in the production of the bag; 10

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the bag 'at a further stageof manufacture;

Fig. 14 is a view showing the paper bagassembled with an outlet caphaving a transparent cover; v

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a rubber band which may beemployed for'securing the (bag to the cap;

Fig. 16 is a detailed view of the cap;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatical side view of the 20 assembled cleaningapparatus illustrating. one. I method of utilizing the same for floorcleaning purposes;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatical side view of the assembled deviceillustrating the use of the hose extension pipe for floorcleaningpurposes;

Fig. 19 is another diagrammatical vie'w showing a method of operatingthe cleaner.

The apparatus comprises several principal elements which will bedescribed in detail. The

encloses the power'pla'nt and suction producing means in the upperportion thereof, and a suction box or nozzle in the lower portion havingagitating means actuated by the power plant. '35 The second principalelement is the dust'collecting and air filtering device B which isswingingly and detachably connected to the floor tool and is equippedwith-a rigid suction pipe projecting therefrom which serves the functionof a handle 40 grip whereby the wheeled cleaner may be moved to and froacross the floor. The third principal element is a flexible,hbllow'extension member C,- communicating with the filter element Bwhich may either be connected to an outlet pipe leading.

from the suction 'box or nozzle or maybe detached from said tool andused with orwithout auxiliary extension devices or tools for cleaningwalls, ceilings, furniture or even the "floor itself.

Referring tothe drawings in detail, the floortool A houses within itsupper portion a suitable i power plant or suctionproducing means whichin'cludesa motor I0 and a centrifugal fan ll driven thereby havingblades I la at its periphery.

This arrangement of elements is best shown intli fiexible hose I4 isconnected at, its opposite end to atank or caddy i5 which houses thedust col-' lecting and air filtering unit. The tank is preferablycylindrical in form and may be of metal, hard fibre, Bakelite," or othersuitable material. The caddy or housing I5 is swingingly connected tothe fioor tool by any suitable means. As shown in Fig. 2, a pair ofbracket arms l6 are connected to the fan casing l1 and project upwardly.and rearwardly therefrom on each side of the air inlet l3 and the hoseI4. Corresponding arms I3l8 are carried by a removable cap at the baseof the caddy and these are hingedly connected at l9 to the arms IS. Theconnection [9 is preferably adjustable and may be made suificientlytight so that the weight of the caddy and dust collecting means housedtherein will be supported substantially rigidly, or the Joint may beloosened to permit the caddy .and handle projecting therefrom to bemoved up and down to permit sweeping under furniture or other lowobjects.

The end of the caddy opposite the removable cap 20 is closed by atransparent cover 2| which may be of glass, Celluloid or other'suitablematerial. This cover is shown as having a flange 22 covered by a U,shaped rubber band 22a serving as bufler and as gasket, and may bedetachably secured to the caddy proper by any suitable means as, forexample, stirrup clamps 2323. The lower half of the cap or cover isirregular in form and is, provided with an eccentric opening 24 in aneck or nipple 25. Over'this nipple the mouth portion of a dustcollector bag 26 is-drawn, such bag being preferably composed of porouspaper or the like. The mouth of the bag is detachablysecure'd bysuitable means, as for example, by a folded over rubberband 21, thedetails of which are 'shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

Owing to the eccentric mounting of the nipple 2! a space is left in theupper portion of the caddy for a lamp 23 which serves to illuminate thetransparent cap and to show the operator the quantity of "dust beingdrawn into the filter.

A sustaining outer receptacle or bag 23, of wire, matting, or othercoarse mesh netting is mounted within the caddy by the use of a suitablecollar which frictionally fits the interior of the caddy or may besecured thereto by suitable fastening means, screws or the like. Thecollar may be of wood, hard fibre,'leather, card board, or othersuitable: material. The inner paper bag is preferably seamless and isadapted ,to be withdrawn from the caddy as the cap 2| is removed.

The top of the cap I Ills provided with an opening 33 into which isfitted a-tubular member 3| which is preferably rigid'and is adapted toserve as the handle gripfportion whereby-the cleaneras a whole may bemoved across the floor. The

handle may be composed of hard fibre, Bakelite, metal, or other suitablematerial and is preferably cemented or otherwise permanently secured tothe cap 2| so that the handle serves as a means for withdrawing the capand inner dust c0llect-. ing bag from the caddy.

To the upper end of the tube 3| may be connected aflexible hose 32 towhich may be secured any suitable cleaning tools, suction nozzles orextension devices. As shown in Fig. 1, the end of the hose 32 is fittedwithin an outlet pipe 33 of the fioor tool nozzle, which nozzle is shownas formed by securing a rectangular box or casing 34 below the fancasing H by means of suitable fastening device 35, as illustrated inFigs. 3, 4 and 5. The suction box or casing 34 is fluid-tight andconstitutes a truesuction nozzle, the interior 36 of which is entirelyout off from the fan chamber 31 within the casing l1,

The details of construction of the floor tool A are best shown byreference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5. As illustrated, the fan casing I! issubstantially circular in form with av reduced housing 38 or topconstituting the motor dome.

The motor shaft 39 is vertical and is provided with upper and lowerbearings 40 and H, respectively, As shown in Fig. 4 the lower bearing 4|is supported by a spider 42 which carries the inlet passage I3 leadingto the fan motor.

It will be noted that air from the inlet l3 enters the fan centrally,adjacent the lower bearing 4| and serves to cool said bearing. Thisconstruction would not be permissible were it not for the fact that theentering air has already been filtered, thus removing dust, lint andparticles of string which would otherwise wrap around the motor shaftand interfere with its operation. The fan itself may be of acomparatively large size, say of a diameter of 10 inches or more, and itis preferably provided near the periphery with a rather large number ofblades I la, saya dozen or. more. Where such a large diameter fan isused,

the speed ofthe motormay be slowed down and the power i -absorbed by thegreater number of blades giving impulse to the moving air. Within thesuction box. 36 are preferably mounted a 'pair of rotatable-agitators 43and 44 which are adapted to be actuated in opposite directions by themotor shaft when a suitable clutch operated by inserting the end of thehose pipe :2 in the outlet is is actuated. 'As shown, the agitator 43 isin the form of a beater carrying flexible beating strips.

For driving the agitators a'belt u is wound about,

. a sleeve or pulley 43 surrounding an extension of the motor shaft.This sleeve is provided with acone clutchmember 41 adapted to engage asimilarly shaped portion 43 of the fan shroud. The clutch member 41 iscarried by a spring lever 43 pivoted at 33 and having an up-tumedresilient portion II at the end opposite the pivot, The lever .4l tendsto drop by gravity until caught by a bracket 53 carried by the top 0!the suction box, thereby disengaging the clutch so. that the agitatorsremain inoperative, but when the end of the hose 3! is inserted withinthe box outlet 33, this end engages the upturned cam portionil forcingit through a slot 33 in the outlet pipe, at

the same time raising the lever 43 and engaging the clutch members 4!andi4l. The suction box 34 is pref a skirt I4 which is showrr attachedto the suction box in Fig. 5 and in Fig. 6 is shown detached and indetail The-skirt conforms in shape to the perimeter of the but isslightly larger and is yieldingly sup on the box at two points bymeans-of the spring shanks II of supporting rollers 33 with which thebox is equipped. The rollers are mounted at opposite ends of the box andtheir 1 shanks extend through slots 51 in upstanding ears ably provided"with l ill) 33 located at opposite endsofthe skirt and into andsupports may be of the type shown-in my Patent 1,541,280, dated June 9,1925, and in my Patent 1,994,868, dated March 19, 1935. Tabs 50' arestruck out from the ears 58 informing the slots and these struck outtabs engage a portion of the roller shanks and serve to space therollers at proper distance from the skirt. I

other suitable material that will not mar or soil the floor coveringwhich it 'is adapted to engage..

. box and groove 62 is pressed out from the interior of the skirtforming a rib 63 on the outside over which a rubber bumper 63a isapplied to prevent marring the furnitureof other objects with which thetool may contact. Around the inside of the skirt a strip 64 is securedby means of staples 65, said strip having an inwardly projecting sealingedge 64a which is adapted to engage the outside of the suction boxcasing, as illustrated in Fig. 7 to form a fluid-tight connection. Thelower edge of the skirt may be serrated, or

notched, or grooved on one or more sides or ends as at 66 to permit airto enter to prevent sealing the skirt air-tight upon the floor or othersurface.

In Fig. 8 I have shown details of construction of one of the agitatorswith which the suction box is equipped. As illustrated, it comprises awooden roller 61 which is actuated by the belt 45. To the roller,bristles or heater elements may be applied, depending upon the type ofagi tator employed. Through the interior of the roller 61 extends'afixed shaft 68, the ends of which are tapered and squared and areadapted to be engaged in rectangularslots 69 formed in yielding flatsprings 10 secured to the ends of the suction box or casing. As shown,the agitator is equipped with suitable end bearings, one of which isillustrated at H, and end collars 12 held in place by pins '13. Themounting of the other agitator is similar and need not be described.

In Figs. 11 to 13 are illustrated the steps which may be employed inmaking the inner dust collector bag shown assembled in liig. 1. Startingwith a seamless square sheet of porous paper 14,

the corners may be cut off along the dotted lines 15 forming anoctagonal sheet. If desired a sixteen-sided'sheet may be formed by againcutting off the corners of the octagonal sheet. The trimmed sheet isthen pressed in at the center forming a cup-shaped member as illustratedin Fig. I2, after which the sides are fluted and'the open end drawn into,a mouth, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The bag so formed is seamless andbeing formed of porous paper is readily adapted to serve as a dustcollecting and air filtering element.

The bag- 26 may then be secured to the dust cap 2|, shown in Figs. 1, l4and 16. t

- It will be noted that the paper bagis folded along its longitudinaledges and is somewhat collapsed lengthwise. Consequently when the bag isplaced within the outer open mesh cage or 'receptacle 29 (Figs. 1 and 2)and air drawn thereinto,the'bag will expand and engage the'oute'r cage,as disclosed in my Patent 1,416,876, the cage serving to reinforce thepaper bag to prevent breakage thereof just as in my aforesaid patent.

' The operation of the cleaner apparatus will now be described. The fanmotor Ill having been started, dust laden air will be drawn into thedust collector frcmany suitable tool attached tothe end The skirt may beof hard fiber, "Bakelite,? or

of the hose pipe 32, whether it be from the suction box 34 or fromextension toolsor the like connected to the hose as illustrated inmyPatent 1,533,271, dated August 14, 1925, and also in Figs. 18 and 19of the present drawings. The quantity of dust in the air entering theair filter will be clearly visible to the operator owing to the presenceof the transparent cap illuminated purpose a 90=rubber dusting tool,such as is disclosed in my Patent 1,994,871, dated March 19,

' 1935, may be employed.

A collapsible hinged bracket 8| may be secured to the body of the caddy,as illustrated in Figs.

18 and 19, such bracket having rollers 82 which cooperate with rollerson'the suction. box and support the cleaner and permit it 'to be movedto and fro across the floor, with a tubular member 3| serving as ahandle grip when hose. 32 is withdrawn from floor tool outlet 33 as inFig. 18. The cleaner body may be clamped at any desired angle withreference to the .floor tool, it bein shown clamped in a verticalposition in Fig. 19 with the electric cord 83 plugged into the wall.

When the suction box 34 is to be utilized for floor cleaning purposes,the end of the hose 32 is fitted into the outlet vpipe 33 therebyengaging the turned up end 5| of the spring lever 49 and bringing.clutch members 41 and 48 into engagement so that the agitators 43 and 44will be actuated by the motor Ill. Since the beater and brush are beltedto rotate in opposite directions there will be no strain on the bearingof the pulley or on the motor shaft. The agitators may Y revolve at arelatively slow rate owing to the small diameter of the pulley or sleeve46. to which they are belted. This, permits the motor to drive the fanII at a sufficient peripheral speed to produce the necessary suction.The large diameter of the fan also makes possible the relativelyslowrotation of the agitators.

When thecleaner is used upon a carpet with a deep nap, the beater tendsto brush the nap in onedirection and the brush to move it in theopposite-direction. The combined action of the.

the centrally mounted roller supports bysimply raising or lowering thehandle -3l. While" the "main portion of the floor tool is'tilted themouth of the skirt, or surface engaged member 54, remains substantiallyflush with the surface being cleaned, as illustrated in Fig.5. When thetool is tilted rear rdlyiby lowering the handle, the agitator 43 will bebrought into frictional contact with the surface being cleaned andconsequently will tend to move the apparatus forwardly, thu's relievingthe operator in whole or in part of the labor of pushing the cleaner. Cm

the other hand, when the handle is raised, the

iront agitator 44 will tend to move the apparatus in the oppositedirection. V

When a suflicient amount of dust has been collected from the filteringdevice, which can be determined by inspection through the transparenttop of the cleaner, the cover may be withdrawn through the agency of thehandle 3!, the

cap 2| carrying with it the inner paper bag 26 which is thenseparatedfrom the cap by removing the rubber band 21 whereupon the paper bag andcontents may be thrown away, burnedor otherwise destroyed and a freshbag attached to the cap and replaced in the caddy.

The amount of dust remaining on the suriace being cleaned may bedetermined by the operator by simply glancing at the transparent capduring the cleaning operation and if the air being drawn in isrelatively clear, it will be apparent that the surface has beenadequately cleaned.

The invention'has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration, but it will be obvious that variations and modificationsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A suction cleaner including a nozzle, agitating means within thenozzle, a source of power.

7 a conduit communicating at one end with a source of suction and havingits other end detachably connectibleto the nozzle, and means adapted tobe actuated by contact with the end oi said conduit for automaticallyconnecting or disconnecting said agitator to or from said source ofpower according as the conduit is connected to or disconnected from thenozzle.

2. A suction cleaner including a nozzle, agitating means within thenozzle, a source of power carried by said nozzle, an elongated conduitcommunicating at one end with a source of suction 4 and adapted to bedetachably connected at its other end to said nozzle, and means forautomatically connecting or disconnecting said agitator to or from saidsource of power according as the detachable endot the conduit isconnected to or disconnected from said nozzle.

3. A suction cleaner includinga nozzle, agitatingmeans within thenozzle,-a source of power,

an elongated conduit communicating at one end with a source of suctionand adapted to be de- 'tachably, connected at its other end to saidnozzle, a two-part clutch interposed between the agitating means andsaid source of power, and

means for automatically engaging or disengaging the patent said clutchaccording as,the detachable end of said conduit is connected to ordisconnected from said nozzle.

-4. A suction'cleaner including a floor tool or nozzle, suctionproducing, means, air filtering means, and a suction pipe communicatingat one end with the air filtering means, its other end being adapted tobe seiectiv ly connected to ordisconnected from said, floor l or nomle,an agitator within said, floor tool. means including an electric-motorforactuati'ng said agitator, and

means iorrendering said actuating means operative or inoperativeaccording as the suction pipe is connected to or disconnected from thefloor tool.

5. A suction cleaner comprising a dust c01 lecting and air filteringdevice connected at one end to a source of suction, and having an intakefor 'dustladen air at the other end, a suction pipe connected at one endto said intake and including a flexible portion and a suction floor tooladapted to'be detachably connected to the free end oi. said flexibleportion and having agitating means therein, power means also carried bysaid floor tool for actuating the agitating means, and means forautomatically connecting or disconnecting the agitating means to or fromsaid power means according as the flexible tube is connected to ordisconnected from said floor tool.

6. A suction cleaner including a nozzle, 2. source of suction, includinga fan and a fan motor, an agitator within said nozzle adapted to beactuated by said motor, an elongated conduit including a flexibleportion, communicating at one end with said source of suction andadapted to be detachably connected at its other end to said nozzle, andmeans adapted to be actuated by contact with the detachable end of saidconduit for, automatically connecting or disconnecting said agitator toor from said motor according as the conduit is connected to ordisconnected from the nozzle.

7. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool including a source of suction anda suction nozzle having a discharge outlet for dustla den air, a rigidsuction conduit communicating with said source of suction andmechanically connected to the floor tool, said conduit constitutingmeans for pro pelling the cleaner across the floor, air filtering meanswithin the conduit, and a flexible tube connected at one end to theinlet end of said conduit, and adapted to be detachably connected at itsother end to said nozzle outlet or to be sepa-' rately used for cleaningpurposes.

tion conduit communicating with said source of suction and mechanicallyconnected to the floor tool, said conduit constituting means forpropelling the cleaner across the floor, air filtering means within theconduit, and a flexible tube connected at one end to the inlet end ofsaid conduit, and adapted to be detachably connected 'at its other endto said nozzle'outlet or to be separately used for cleaningpurposes,,agitating means within said nozzle, and means forautomatically rendering said agitating means inoperative when theflexible tube is detached from the nozzle.

9. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool including a source of suction anda suction nozzle having a discharge outlet for dust laden air, a rigids'uction conduit communicating with said source of suction andmechanically connected to the floor tool, said conduit constitutingmeans for propelling the cleaner across the floor, air filtering meanswithin the conduit, and a flexible tube connected at one end to theinlet end of said conduiiaand adapted to be detachably connected at itsother end tosaid nozzle outlet orto-be separately used for cleaningpurposes, agitating means within the nozzle, power means for actuatingsaid agitating means,- a clutch interposed between the power means andsaid agitating means andmeans .for, automatically engaging or,

disengaging said clutch according as the flexible tube is connected toor disconnected Irom said nozzle.

l0. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool including suction producing meanshaving a suction inlet anda discharge outlet, a.suction nozzleconstituting themouth portion of the tool and having an outlet for dustladen air, a rigid suction conduit connected to said floor tool andcommunicating with said suction inlet, air filtering means within theconduit, and a flexible hose connectedqg aai eco to be separately usedfor cleaning purposes.

11. Ina suction cleaner, a floor .tool including suction producing meanshaving a suction inlet and a discharge outlet, a suction nozzleconstituting the mouth portion of the tool and having an outlet for dustladen air, a rigid suction conduit connected to said,floor tool andcommunicating with said suction inlet, air filtering means within theconduit, and a flexible hose connected at one end with the intake ofsaid conduit, and adapted to be 'detachably connected at its other endwith the discharge outlet of said nozzle, or to be separately used forcleaning purposes, a motor for actuating said suction producing means,agitating means within said nozzle, adapted to be actuated by saidmotor, a clutch interposed between said motor and said agitating means,and means for engaging or disengaging said clutch according as theflexible hose is connected to or disconnected from said nozzle.

12. In a suction cleaner, 9, floor tool comprising suction producingmeans having a-suction inlet and a discharge outlet, a nozzle portionseparated from the suction producing means by a fluid tight wall, andhaving an intake mouth and "a discharge outlet for dust laden air, arigid conduit connected to the floor tool and communicating 'at one endwith said suction producing means, air filtering means withinsaidconduit, and a pipe connecting the air intake end of said conduitwith the discharge outlet of said floor tool nozzle. a 13. In a suctioncleaner, a floor tool comprising suction producing means having asuction inlet and a discharge outlet, a nozzle portion separated fromthe suction producing means by a fluid tight wall, and havinga'n intakemouth and a discharge outlet for dust laden air, a rigid conduitconnected to the floor tool and communicating at one end with saidsuction producing means,

an filtering means within said conduit, and a pipe connecting the airintake end of said conduit with the discharge outlet of said floor toolnozzle, said floor tool constituting a separate'unit from said conduitandbeing separable therefrom. 1

14. A suction cleaner, including a nozzle, having a dischargeoutletadapted to be connected to a source of suction, agitating means withinthe nozzle, a source of .power for actuating said agitating means, meansincluding a flexible hose.

for selectively connecting the discharge outlet with said source 'ofsuction a two part clutch interposed between said agitating means andsaid source of power, and means for automatically engaging ordisengaging the parts of said clutch according as the nozzle outlet isconnected to or disconnected from the source of suction.

'15. A suction cleaner, including a. nozzle,:hav-

ing a dischargeoutlet adapted to be connected to a source of suction,agitating means within the nozzle, a source of power for actuating saidagitating means, means for selectively connecting the discharge outletwith said source of suction, aclutch interposed between said agitatingmeans and said source of power, and means for automatically engaging ordisengaging said clutch according as the nozzle outlet is connected toor disconnected from the source of suction,

said last' named means comprising a hinged lever carrying one part ofthe clutch. v I

16. In a suction cleaner, a wheeled floor tool, including a fan casingin the upper part thereof and a suction nozzle in the lower portion,with a fluid tight separating wall therebetween, the fan casin'g havingan inlet opening for filtered air and a discharge outlet, and the nozzlehaving an outlet opening, a dust collecting and air filtering deviceconnected at one end to the fan inlet, a rigid suction pipe connected tosaid dust .collecting element and adapted to serve as a handle formoving the apparatus to andfro across the floor, and a flexible tubeconnected to the suction pipe and adapted to be connected to the outletopening of said suction nozzle orto beseparately used for cleaningpurposes. a 17. A suction cleaner comprising a floor tool including afan and a fan casing having an-air inlet and an outlet, a fan motorhoused above the fan casing, and a suction box below the fan casing butseparated therefrom by a fluid tight wall, and having an outlet openingfor dust laden air, agitating means in said suction box adapted to beactuated by said -fan motor,-dust collecting and air filtering meansoutside of said floor tool detachably connected at one end to the faninlet, a flexible suction pipe communicating at one end with. the-inletend of the filtering means, and adapted to be detachably connected atits other end to the outlet of the suction box or ing a fan casing inthe upper portion thereof, a suction nozzle in the lower portion, and afluid tight wall dividing the two portions into two separate chambers,the fan casing having a suction inlet anda discharge outlet, and thesuction nozzle having an inlet mouthand a discharge outlet, a fan motorabove said fan casing having an extension of its shaft projectingthrough said fluid tight wall into said nozzle, and rotating agitatingmeans within the nozzle actuated from said motor shaft extension, saidagitating means comprising a pair of rotating floor engaging memberslocated one in front of and one in rear ofthe motor shaft extension.

DANIEL BENSON REPLOGLE.

